Kleos grimaced. “Not that I’m not dying of curiosity, but I don’t keep secrets from Lucian. So long as you’re not here at Zeus’s bidding, or an enemy of Highvale, that’s all I need to know.”
There were two problems.
Technically, I was here at Zeus’s bidding.
Which meant that I was an enemy of Highvale.
I felt for the sphere in my pocket and pressed it, letting out a jolt of power through my focal stone. Pain immediately coursed through my veins, pulsing, burning, but while acute, the punishment for using my core power didn’t last long.
Kleos blinked, eyes full of lightning.
Then she smiled pleasantly. “You gave us a bit of a fright. Do you mind if I check your vitals?”
I smiled back, getting to my feet. “I’m all good actually, thank you.”
11
SILVER
I’d like to say I stayed at the manor solely because I’d missed Kleos during her week away and wanted to spend some quality time with my best friend. It certainly was one of the factors. But the slightly annoying truth was that the lying bastard worried me when he fainted without explanation. And maybe I felt a little bad about antagonizing him.
Up until this point, Cas had seemed so composed, so strong, the very picture of health and vitality, that his little amnesia routine seemed completely ludicrous. But healthy people didn’t pass out without any reason.
So yes, maybe I felt guilty. That was easy to recognize and explain to myself. But even I could see that the eagerness I showed when Kleos walked back into the kitchen wasn’t just guilt.
“How is he?” I demanded.
Worry. I was concerned about him. Concerned he’d slip back into his weeklong coma. Wondering if I’d been wrong after all.
“The phoenix? Settling in inside Cassius’s greenhouse.” Kleos levelled me with a knowing grin.
The dick wanted me to admit I was here to hear about Cas, damn her. Instead I glared.
Leaning in to stroke the fluffy ears of the puppy on my lap, my best friend chuckled and gave in. “Cas is just fine. He’s in the shower—he’ll be here in a minute.”
Zazel, the white demon cat who rarely ventured more than a few feet away from her, hissed in distaste.
He’d taken well enough to Phobos, Lucian’s black fox, but apparently, he didn’t feel like sharing his witch’s attention with another critter. His disapproval might be less relevant if Zazel weren’t able to enlarge himself to the size of a truck.
“Don’t eat the puppy,” I firmly told the feline.
His tail swished behind him, red eyes fixed on my lap.
“I think he’s wary,” Lucian said. “If Cas was right and it’s a hellhound, that’s why.”
“She’s just a tiny little adorable pup,” I argued, lifting her up to hug her close to my chest.
I frowned, noticing the change in her weight, first. She’d been featherlight to me moments ago. I could still carry her without any issue, but her weight had easily tripled in a few minutes.
“Did you grow in just a few hours?” I asked her, perplexed. The hound licked my nose, and my heart melted on the spot. “I adore you, you pretty, wild thing. Yes, I do.” Her name came to me out of the blue, jumping from my mind to my lips, as though I’d remembered it rather than made it up. “Amavi.”
“That’s unbearably adorable,” Lucian asserted.
“I loved,” Kleos translated, sinking to her husband’s lap. “Who knew you could be so sentimental?”
“I’m not sentimental,” I grumbled. “That’s just her name. I didn’t choose it.”
Even as I spoke, the little pup kicked my boobs to get closer to my face and I laughed against her precious face, somehowundermining my entire protest. “I’m losing all edge, aren’t I?” I bemoaned.
